Missing Veteran’s medals

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A month from now, we’ll mark one of the most sombre holiday on the calendar. Remembrance Day is a time for reflection; a time to honour both those who lost their lives in battle and those very few who remain. Which is why a petty theft in Dunnville packs an enormous emotional punch.

David Hamilton is 94 years old now. He lives in a retirement home, in Dunnville. But 70 years ago as his son David Hamilton Jr. explains, “he was shipped off to the UK and when they went up the beaches on D-day to Juno, he went up the beaches with them. He fought across Belgium, into Holland for the liberation.”

Dave Sr. still talks about those days, although often not in detail, he preferred to write down his thoughts and feelings on paper. One thing the family does know he was awarded a bronze oak leaf, a King’s Commendation for an act of bravery that he referred to as simply “helping the women.”

“He was very proud of what he did during the war, and that’s why this is such a shock to us, and we haven’t told him about it because, in his frail condition we just don’t want to upset him anymore than he is.”

What they haven’t told their father is that his medals have vanished. They were on a new blue blazer, hanging in his closet, at Grandview Lodge. The blazer, and Dave’s history have been stolen from him.

“I just don’t know why anybody would do it. I really don’t. I would hate to think that anyone at Grandview would be taking things like that, I still don’t believe that. ”

We made a request for a comment, from Grandview Lodge, but got no response from the administration.

“I know they’ve investigated, they are looking into it as we speak, and now that the OPP are investigating, I’m sure that they’ll step up the watch and try to find out who did it.”

But what the family really wants, is for the jacket and medals to be returned as soon as possible.